SK 283 
.S4 



The 

ccomplished 
Muskrat Trapper 




Ike 

Accomplished 
Muskrat Trapper 



A Book on Trapping 
for Amateurs 




By 

A . E . SCHMIDT 
C H i C AGO 



^t? 



Oopyriglit, 1922, by 
A.KSoliniidt. 



©CI.A686560 



Boyle Brothers, Incorporated 

Printers 

606 West Lake Street Chicago. Illinois 



OCT 30 1922 



INTRODUCTION. 



In placing this booklet before the great fraternity of American 
trappers, the author does not propose to exercise any pedagogical 
influence upon the truly professional trapper, who, seasoned in the 
hard school of experience, knows the animals he is seeking, like a 
mother knows her child. It is his wish, however, to assist and 
guide the amateur to a greater success. 

Practically all text-books written for trappers, treating upon the 
subject of trapping and raw furs, heretofore have been neglectful of 
two things, namely, how to trap the animals under various con- 
ditions, and the assorting and grading of raw furs. 

Of all fur bearers, the muskrat is the most numerous and least 
wary, hence very easily trapped — in consequence of this: it has 
been neglected by writers of trapping to a greater extent than any 
other fur-bearing animals. The author of The Accomplished 
Muskrat Trapper feels that he is instrumental in introduc- 
ing to thousands of muskrat trappers a long-felt want. Be- 
ing a trapper of wide experience, he early recognized the worth 
of the methods contained herein. Knowing that a fair trial will 
convince the most skeptical as to the merits and practicability of 
these methods, the writer feels sure that this little booklet will meet 
with the hearty approval of trappers everywhere. 



Chapter 1. 

Habits and Nature of the Muskrat. 

The rodent quadruped muskrat, also known by the Indian name 
"Musquash" is a small amphibious animal of North America, being 
found as far north as Labrador and Alaska, and ranging south as 
far as the states of New Mexico and Arizona. There is only one 
species of the muskrat, but naturalists recognize several varieties 
or sub-divisions, the differentia lying mainly in the color of the fur, 
firmness of the skin or pelt, and the physical dimensions of the 
animal. For example, the muskrats of the Atlantic coast states are 
comparatively large and of dark color ; while those of the North- 
west prairie region are smaller, thin and papery in pelt (except 
those living in clear or cold water streams) and of paler color. 
These variations are no doubt due to climatic and local conditions 
under which the animal lives. 

Generally speaking, it may be said that the muskrat is a noc- 
turnal animal, but where they are plentiful they are frequently 
observed prowling or sw^imming about during the day. It is found 
at home in rivers, lakes and ponds. When inhabiting the former 
it lives in burrows dug in the banks ; the entrance to these are 
usually several feet under water. They are found to be most 
numerous in swamps which are heavily bordered with grasses and 
thickly strewn with scattering growths of aquatic vegetation. The 
roots of these plants compose the principal diet of the animal, while 
the tops furnish the material for the construction of their homes. 
The marsh 'rat differs in its mode of living from that of its brother 
the "river 'rat," by its habit of constructing dome-like houses. This 
change in abode is due to the natural environment in which it lives. 
In many large swamps scores of these queer little dwellings can be 
seen towering above the water. They average about three feet in 
height, and are composed of the roots and stems of grasses, reeds, 
wild rice and flags. The entrances are located under water. From 
four to eight 'rats are generally found in one house. 

The muskrat is a herbivorous animal. Its food consists of the 
roots of flags, water lilies, etc. It is also very fond of sweet 
apples and vegetables, and will often raid a garden when located 
near its haunts. It is also partial to grain, especially corn. 



Although the muskrat is herbaceous by nature, it is known to eat 
the flesh of clams. These it carries upon shore, deposits them in a 
pile in some secluded retreat and leaves them to die, whereupon 
they are easily opened and devoured with much avidity. The 
general assumption is that the animal eats these clams only when 
other food is scarce. This, however, is entirely in discord with the 
observations of the author, who has on several occasions discovered 
'rats feeding on clams when their favorite food was plentiful. 
Therefore, it is only logical to presume, that it is not the lack of 
food that attracts the 'rat's attention to the lowly clam, but it is the 
abundance of the mussel in itself. 

Muskrats are our most prolific fur bearers, producing from two 
to three litters in a season, the first making its appearance in the 
latter part of April or early May. The period of gestation requires 
about forty-five daj^s. The 3'oung of the early spring litters will 
frequently rear one family during the same season. It is this 
progeny of these young females that accounts for the numerous 
kitts (immature muskrats) taken during the early part of the 
trapping season. 

Considering the wonderful procreative powers of this little 
animal, it appears that they would become as numerous as the pro- 
verbial "hair on a dog's back," but they have many enemies, of 
which man with his traps and firearms is the most deadly, with 
perhaps the mink a close second. Many a time has the writer in 
his ramblings come onto a 'rat house, which had a small round bor- 
ing at the water-line, just large enough to allow the long, slender 
body of a mink to pass through. To the casual observer this 
would appear to be merely a hole, but to the trained eye of the 
trapper it reveals a tale of woe. He knows that here, during the 
long, tranquil hours of the night, another family of muskrats was 
sacrificed to satisfy the flagrant craving of this bloodthirsty mem- 
ber of the weasel tribe. When a mink enters a house or burrow, 
in the aforesaid manner, the inhabitants flee by w^ay of the diving 
hole. If everything remains quiet, they will return, one by one, 
to their home in a very few minutes. The crafty mink, knowing 
the nature of the muskrat, crouches near the diving hole, remaining 
very quiet, and bounces upon the poor, unsuspecting victims as they 
emerge. 

Occasionally a trapper may come upon the remains of a muskrat 
and, following an investigation, cannot detect any clues as to the 
identity of the assailant. When there are no telltale tracks about, 



then it is safe to assume that the marauder was an owl or some 
other bird of prey. 

The otter, fox and coyote can also be listed as enemies of the 
muskrat, as they too make an occasional capture. 

With the above facts in mind, it can be easily understood that 
approximately only fifty per cent of all muskrats born ever reach 
maturity. In spite of all this, they manage to hold their own and 
are found in fair numbers in the rat producing sections. 

The animal instincts of the muskrat are not as keenly developed 
as those of the designing fox or the wary mink. Unlike the beaver 
and otter, it is not afraid of civilization and thrives in the most 
thickly settled sections. 

Nature in its entirety is wonderful. It is not unlike a vast 
panorama of charm and beauty. Here we find the ancient law — 
the survival of the fittest — a reality. Many people surmise the 
muskrat to be very uninteresting. But those people who are will- 
ing to devote a little of their time to the nocturnal study of the 
animal will surely acknowledge it to be a very interesting little 
creature. Where can we find the lover of nature whose heart 
would not be thrilled as we quietly make our way along some 
moonlit stream in the late fall (this being the time of year when 
'rats are very busy) to get a glimpse at the home life of this little 
fur bearer? As we approach the familiar patch of cat-tail flags, we 
hear the persistent crunch-crunch-crunch of tireless little jaws, as 
they grind away at the juicy morsel of flag or water lily. We 
pause to listen, our little friend seems to be no more than twenty 
feet away. Further upstream we hear another and another in fact ; 
the rushes seem to be alive with them. Some of them are cutting 
down the stems of wild rice and flags, while others are dragging 
the material away to build and repair their houses with it. We 
stand motionless, as we discern a V-shaped streak of silvery lined 
ripples playing on the moonlit waters, heading directly toward us 
from the opposite shore. We know that the dark object at the 
head of this undulating formation is a muskrat, evidently bound on 
joining its friends at their feast in the rushes. Hark! There is a 
sudden commotion in the flags, followed by a splash and a plunge ; 
then all is still, the grinding has ceased, the silvery ripples have 
faded away and the water is smooth and reflectent, not unlike a 
great mirror. We are surprised and wonder at the cause of the 



sudden alarm, which drove the 'rats to the sheltering depths of 
the river. Had we not remained perfectly quiet? We turn, just 
in time to see a monstrous owl glide noiselessly by the moon. 



i 




Fig. 1 



Chapter 2. 

Trapping Muskrats — Open Water Methods. 

There are numerous methods employed in trapping the musk- 
rat ; most of them will prove successful when they are used under 
the proper conditions, time and place. The muskrat heing a mem- 
ber of the amphibious class of animals, consequently traps must be 
set in or very near the w^ater to attain the best results. This, how- 
ever, does not mean that traps set at random will bring results, but, 
on the other hand, when sets are properly placed at signs, then the 
novice can rest assured that he will be rewarded for his efforts. 

When a trapper decides to operate on a certain stretch of water, 
his first duty would be to study the signs of the animal, from the 
abundance or scarcity of which he can closely estimate the number 
of animals present in that particular locality, also the size of terri- 
tory he can handle, and the number of traps required to cover the 
same. 

What are signs? They are the visible indications which betray 
the presence of the animals, such as tracks in the muddy margins 
of the shore (see Fig. 1 ), feed beds, houses, dens, slides, the freshly 
cut stems of aquatic vegetation and excremental matter on logs, 
drift wood, rocks, and other objects lying in or near the water. 
To become expert at reading signs requires practical experience ; 
theory or book knowledge alone will not do. The success or 
failure of any trapper can be measured by his ability to read the 
signs of the animals he is seeking and his knowledge of their nature. 

Our next consideration will be the selection of the proper traps. 
When trapping muskrats with the common steel traps, never use 
anything larger than size No. I14 nor smaller than size No. 1. 

The "Newhouse" is without a doubt the best and most reliable 
all around steel trap on the market ; the material and workmanship 
embodied in its construction, combined with its durability, render 
it a product of the highest character. 

The *'V"ictor" is the most popular of the cheaper kind of traps 
and is generally used by those who follow trapping as a side-line. 
While trapping 'rats, many trappers prefer the Victor to the New- 
house, on account of the latter's powerful spring. The forelegs of 



the muskrat are comparatively small and frail and easily broken 
off; for that reason too strong a spring is not desired. 

The various makes of "jump" traps are rapidly becoming very 
popular. They are a very compact trap on account of their feature 
of having the spring on the inside of the jaws, which permits them 
to be set in places where other traps could only be set with great 
difficulty. 

There are many brands of traps manufactured which possess 
special features, such as double jaws, webbed jaws, high grip, etc. 
All of these traps are excellent for catching muskrats, as they are 
made to prevent the animals from gnawing or wringing off, and 
thus escaping. 

One of the best traps for muskrats ever invented is manufactured 
by W. A. Gibbs & Son, Chester, Penn. It is made with two sets 
of jaws; the inner set gripping the animal's leg, while the outer 
set clutches the body. From this trap there is no escape when once 
caught, in many cases killing its victim instantly, which benevolent 
feature makes it a favorite of many. 

Trapping methods may be classified into two separate groups, 
namely, blind and bait sets, ranking in the order named. A blind 
set is arranged at signs without the use of bait. Traps placed in 
position so as to guard the approach to food and scent decoys are 
termed bait sets. 

Scent decoys, better known as animal baits, are compounded of 
various ingredients which appeal to the inborn and irresistible in- 
stincts of the animals, and which assist in enticing them to traps. 

The following methods are recognized to be the best and most 
reliable for trapping 'rats when streams are free of ice. They will 
prove their merits to the beginner when applied intelligently. 
While the muskrat is generally conceded to be one of the easiest of 
fur bearers to trap, let no one suppose that the careless trapper who 
makes his sets in a sort of hit or miss fashion, will ever achieve 
much of a success in trapping them. 

Perhaps the most common method employed in the capture of 
this little animal, is to set traps at the foot of their slides, in two 
or three inches of water. A slide, in the trapper's vocabulary, is a 
place on the banks frequented by 'rats, usually extending from eight 
to sixteen inches above the water and having a kind of plastic 
perch or rest at the top, upon which are generally found excrements 
of the animal. These slides are easily recognized on account of 



their worn and smooth appearance, which is brought about by the 
animal's habit of sliding into the water when leaving them. Do 
not waste any time in setting traps at old and dried signs, those 
that are being used will appear damp and often sprinkled with 
fresh mud. Where the water is not deep enough at the foot of the 
slide to completely cover the trap, excavate a bed for the same to 
the desired depth. This rule should be followed in all forms of 
water sets. Whenever possible, always stake the trap chain into 
deep water at full length, as the first impulse of the captured game 
is to seek shelter by diving into deep water, where, following a 
short struggle, the weight of the trap finally drowns it. The 
sliding pole is another and more certain method of drowning the 
animals (See Fig. 2). Drowning will not only conceal the captured 




Fig. 2 



game from possible thieves, but also secure it for the trapper against 
gnawing and wringing off, and last, but not least, this humane act 
will do away with a lot of needless suffering. 

Another good way to take them is at their feed beds. These are 
located near shore among the scattering growths of aquatic vegeta- 
tion. They appear to be floating in the w^ater semi-submerged, and 
are composed of the refuse of the animal's food, such as the stems of 
blue flags, wild rice, reeds and bits of various grasses found grow- 
ing near their haunts. When making sets on these beds make sure 
that the traps are from one to two inches under water, as this will 
allow the trap to get a higher grip on the animal's outstretched 
leg. Arrange the set so that the catch will drown. 

Often while looking for signs the trapper will come upon a 
small, narrow path, which is three to five inches in width, leading 
from the water to some other body of water near by, or taking its 
course across a peninsula to again terminate in the water on the 
other side. Such a trail is comnionly made and used by muskrats. 
When you find such a place, set a trap in the water at each end of 
the trail. When making a set where the water is much deeper 
than the usual depth required, take sticks about twelve inches long 
and twice the caliber of an ordinary leadpencil, shove these into the 
bank horizontally about a third of their length and three inches 
under water, placing them an inch apart, six in a row. This will 
make a platform for the trap, which will overcome the danger of 
the animals passing over the set without getting caught. 

In the late fall when 'rats are busy building and repairing their 
houses, they can be caught by setting the trap on that side of the 
structure showing the greatest slope ; because here they ascend when 
at their labor. When staking the trap at a set of this nature, it is 
advisable to drive another stake about a foot beyond the first. The 
animal, when caught, struggling winds the chain around the outer 
stake, and is thus hindered from reaching the house, where it 
otherwise would do great damage, tearing and digging into it. 
This would result in frightening the other inmates away, thus 
lessening the trapper's chances of duplicating his catch. 

The washes under banks and the undermined roots of trees at 
the water's edge, created by the ceaseless toil of the elements, afford 
good places to set traps, as every passing 'rat will visit such places. 
Traps should be set and covered very carefully, as a place of this 
nature is often investigated by the elusive mink and inquisitive 



raccoon. As a consequence, the trapper has a fine opportunity of 
catching a more valuable animal. 

When searching the stream for signs, you will often notice the 
droppings of the animals on logs and scraps of lumber lying in the 
water. These can be converted into excellent sets by cutting a bed 
for the trap w^ith the ax, just far enough under water to com- 
pletely cover the trap. 

When signs and places as described above are scarce, but musk- 
rats are known to exist, proceed as follows : At some conspicuous 
place, dig a horizontal hole in the bank right at the water-line, 
which should be about a foot deep and five inches in diameter. Pin 
a piece of parsnip, carrot, cabbage or sweet apple, back in the hole. 
Some trappers use a piece of the flesh of muskrat, the scent of 
which is attractive to muskrats. Set the trap at the mouth of this 
hole, in two or three inches of water, conceal carefully by covering 
lightly with water-soaked leaves and thin mud. The above is a set 
equally good for mink, as this animal has the habit of exploring 
every hole that it comes to in its travels. 

Another and most simple method, is merely to fasten the bait 
on the bank about eight inches above the trap. In reaching for the 
bait the 'rat will step into the trap and get caught. 

Some trappers prefer to use animal baits in connection with their 
'rat sets at all times. This, I believe, is wholly unnecessary, except- 
ing during mating, which occurs the latter part of February and 
extends throughout the rest of the trapping season. At this time, 
a good, dependable scent will help considerably in luring animals 
to traps. 

There are numerous brands of scents on the market, some of 
which are reliable, but most of them are a farce, and are merely 
intended to pry hard-earned dollars from overalls pockets. The 
formula used in the manufacture of most of these baits is kept a 
secret by the makers. The purchaser, not knowing what in- 
gredients they contain, faces the perplexing problem of choosing, 
or more frankly stated, guessing, as to their merits, when buying. 

But, why worry about buying decoys when you can easily make 
them yourself? The musk of the muskrat is the best scent known 
for attracting this animal. It is found on both sexes, in two cream 
colored glands known as castors, which are located just under the 
skin of the belly. Remove these from every animal you catch, and 
place in an air-tight bottle or jar until needed. When you are 
ready to prepare the scent, proceed as follows: Mash the castors 



into a fine pulpy state ; to ever^^ ounce of this mixture add two 
ounces of glycerine to give volume and prevent evaporation, also 
one grain of corrosive sublimate. Let stand for about a week and 
you will have the best muskrat scent obtainable. Cork tightly and 
keep in a cool place. Sprinkle a few drops of this scent at every set 
during the spring season. 

In the early spring, as soon as the first heavy thaws set in 
releasing the muskrats from their natural prison, they are eagerly 
sought because their pelts are at their best, being fully prime at 
this time of year. But trappers are often hampered in their opera- 
tions against the lowly 'rat at this particular time, on account of the 
absence of signs. This drawback can be overcome as follows: 
Procure pieces of two by six (plank), each about four feet in 
length. Set two traps on each plank, one near each end, covering 
them lightly with dry grass or leaves. Sprinkle a few drops of 
scent along the plank between traps. Staple the traps to the ends 
of the plank and anchor the same near shore. Some trappers 
scatter pieces of bait on the plank, but this is not necessary, as the 
scent will draw^ them much better than food bait at this time of 
year. 

Another method is to build a small mound in about six inches 
of water. This can be made of small stones, plastered with mud, 
and should extend about six inches above the water. Sprinkle a 
few drops of scent on top of mound and set trap at the bottom, 
staking into deep water. 



Chapter 3. 

Trapping Musk rats Under Ice in Winter. 

The hustling trapper generally gathers a fair sized collection of 
muskrat pelts in the late fall, as 'rats are very active and move 
about a great deal at this time of the year, leaving signs in 
abundance at which the trapper may set his traps. Then suddenly 
some frosty morning as he makes his rounds, he finds the stream 
covered with a thin coat of ice, a sign heralding the arrival of 
winter. Under the thin ice the traps are setting and undisturbed 
just as he left them the day before. Disgusted he lifts them and 
quits. Right here is where many 'rat trappers make a mistake: 
When they find streams covered with ice, they pull stakes and 
quit. If these same trappers knew how to catch them under the 
ice, they could greatly increase their annual catch. 

What becomes of the muskrat when its natural highway is 
covered with ice? How does it obtain its food while thus im- 
prisoned? How can it breathe under water? Queries such as these 
are often put to trappers by those who are unacquainted with the 
nature of the animal. When streams are frozen, muskrats are 
practically shut off from the outside world, but nevertheless they 
are as happy as ever, playing and frolicking in the water and often 
traveling great distances from their burrows. When hungry they 
seek the beds of wild. rice and flags, from which they procure their 
food. This they carry to their feed beds or dens to be devoured. 
They cannot breathe in the water as fish do, because they are not 
endowed with gills, but they do travel long distances under the 
same breath, and when the lungs have drained the oxygen, the 'rat 
comes up to the under side of the ice and exhales. The bubble 
thus formed immediately fills with oxygen and is then again in- 
haled, whereupon the animal continues on its journey until it finds 
it necessary to repeat the operation. 

As soon as the ice is sufficiently strong enough to bear a man's 
weight, many muskrats are taken by men and boys who get out on 
the ice armed with clubs and pursue the animals as they swim along 
under the ice; when a 'rat comes up to the ice to replenish its 
supply of oxygen, a sharp blow from a well-seasoned club brought 
down on the ice directly above the animal will stupify it. While 



the animal is in this temporary state of coma, a hole is cut in the 
ice and the victim taken out. When hunting 'rats in this manner, 
I prefer to use a shotgun in place of the cluh, because it is quicker 
in action and the terrific concussion which occurs when the shot 
strikes the ice often kills the game outright. As many as a dozen 
'rats are often taken by one man in the course of a few hours, as 
they seem to move about more freely during the day, when streams 
are covered with ice. In their eagerness to get their share of the 
pelts, trappers often receive a wetting w^hile pursuing the animals 
over thin ice. When operating on thin ice stay in the shallow 
places; remember the watchword "safety first." 

Sometimes muskrats are driven from their dens by pounding the 
bank with some heavy object directly over the entrance; when the 
animals are aware of the thumping, they usually flee from imagi- 
nary harm's way by taking to the water ; they are then shot as they 
emerge. The above methods of taking muskrats through ice are 
good, but can only be used on clear ice, not over five inches in 
thickness, as the shot will not take effect in heavier ice. 

While open water trapping cannot be excelled, in comparison to 
results obtained, under-ice trapping will adequately repay those who 
are willing to give it a fair trial. No trapper should attempt to 
make sets under ice which is much more than a foot in thickness, 
as the task would prove too elaborate. The following methods 
will bring results when instructions are followed carefully. They 
are being used by expert trappers and are the only practical modes 
for this sort of trapping: 

Setting traps at the mouth of dens is perhaps the best and most 
profitable under-ice method known to the trapping fraternity, as it 
will be remembered that the average den contains from four to 
eight muskrats, and in some instances even more. Therefore it 
can be readily understood that the trapper who will locate dens in 
his spare time during the summer and fall will be the most suc- 
cessful. While hunting dens in open water use either a boat or hip 
boots; select a quiet day when the water is calm, travel slowly 
along near shore, keeping watch for the mouth of dens. These 
entrances are usually from one to four feet under water. If the 
den is inhabited, the entrance will be found clear of all rubbish 
and obstructions of any kind. Many of these holes have a trench- 
like trail or run extending a yard or two towards midstream. 
Whenever a den is found, mark the same by shoving a stick on the 
upstream side of the entrance, the top of which should extend 



about ten inches ^Tbove the water level to allow for a sudden rise 
of the stream. When dens are thus marked they can be easily 
found after ice forms. 

IVIany dens can also be found through clear ice, as follows: 
Walk along on the ice ne?ir shore until you see a streak of bubbles 
under the ice, which is several yards in length, usually extending 
towards midstream; further examination will reveal the mouth of 
den af the termination of the bubble stream near the shore. Mark 
dens with stakes as described above. The traps are lowered into 
the mouth of den at the end of a four-foot piece of wire, said e'id 
being shaped into a hook for holding the trap; or, better still, pur- 
chase a "Triumph Trap Placer," which is manufactured by the 
Triumph Trap Co., of Oneida, New York. This is a very handy 
instrument, used for the settine of traps in difficult places, especially 
under ice. In all den sets, the trap should be placed inside the 
entrance as far as it is possible to get it. A wide entrance often 
allows the game to pass over the trap without getting caught. This 
can be overcome by placing flat stones under the traps or by 
obstructing the upper half of the entrance with a wide trap s^ake, 
which is pushed into the side of entrance in a horizontal manner. 
This compels the game to dive under it and pass low enough to get 
caught. The traps are fastened by slipping the chain ring on to the 
stake which marks the den. 

When the ice is covered with snow, dens cannot be located as 
described above. In that case a fair number of dens can often be 
found by sounding. This is accomplished by pounding the ice with 
the ax in shallow places along the shore, until you find a place 
which produces a hollow sound upon being struck; this indicates a 
'rat run. When you find such a place, cut through and set a trap 
in the run, then cover the hole in the ice, using sticks and dry 
grass as a foundation and then pack tightly with snow. A run 
is the trenchlike trail under water which leads to the rrouth of den. 
When these runs are located in shallow water, the body heat of the 
animals melts the ice to the extent of several inches directly above 
the run. This creates an air space which accounts for the hollow 
sound when struck^ from above. 

The barrier set will capture both the muskrat and mink, travel- 
ing under the ice. Every experienced trapper knows that these 
animals swim along near shore in their travels, for various reasons, 
chiefly while hunting for food. The set is as follows: Cut a narrow 
channel in the ice about six feet in length; begin at the bank and 



work out towards midstream. Now take sticks and build a barrier 
the entire length of channel, shove them down well into the bottom 
about an inch apart, leaving the tops an inch or two above the 
level of the ice. Leave an opening about six inches wide, twelve 
or eighteen inches from the bank, in about six inches of water. In 
this opening set your trap. An anim.al coming along will find this 
opening, attempt to pass through and get caught. This set will 
bring the best results when used on small streams and drainage 
canals, as these can be staked their entire width. When staking 
small streams, leave an opening for a trap on each side of the 
stream. Fasten traps by slipping the chain ring into the stake at 
opening. When the water where the set is to be made is somewhat 
deeper than eight inches, place flat stones or similar objects under 
traps. This should be done to crowd the animals into the traps. 
When the ice gets heavier, thus lessening the water space, then 
these obstacles must be removed. Cover the holes in the ice as 
stated above. It is advisable, also much easier, to construct the 
barriers shortly before the streams freeze up. 

On warm winter days muskrats often come forth to sun them- 
selves ; they remain but a few moments at a time, but that is suf- 
ficient to catch them in traps which are properly placed in the 
water at springs, airholes and rapids, also at the inlets and outlets 
of lakes and ponds. 

In many lakes and swamps muskrats live in houses instead of 
burrows. To trap them in their houses, cut a hole on the south 
side of the house, then set the trap inside on the bed or in the 
diving hole. Fasten the trap to a clog on the outside of the house, 
then tightly close the opening with the material cut away ; on top 
of this freely pack dry grass or reeds and then snow. This must 
be done to keep the diving hole from freezing. The traps should 
be visited at least twice a day, preferably in the morning and in the 
evening, because the animals do not always drown when caught in 
this way. Before you decide to set traps in houses, better look up 
the statute of your state in regard to this matter. Many states 
have now enacted a law making it unlawful for any person, at 
any time, to destroy, molest or set traps in or uppn muskrat houses. 

Where muskrats are plentiful, they are often taken by lowering 
the traps through the jce, in three or four feet of water. These 
traps are baited with a piece of carrot or cabbage, which is bound 
to the pedal of the traps. The muskrats prowling along the 
bottom of the stream investigate the dainty morsel and are caught. 



The best traps to use for this method are the "Two Triggers" and 
"Alligator" game traps, because these traps clutch the animal's 
body. Should you use the common steel trap, be sure you use noth- 
ing small than size No. ll/2» because the game is usually caught by 
the head. The trigger of the trap should be set very lightly, so it 
will spring at the slightest pressure. This method is most gener- 
ally used near muskrat houses, in states where the law prohibits 
the setting of traps in these houses. 



Chapter 4. 

Opportunity and 'Rat Ranching. 

The annual catch of North American raw furs has a monetar}^ 
value of approximately twenty-five million dollars. The number 
of pelts required to reach such a fieure must necessarily be very 
large. Trapping is done, more or less, by many people, in many 
walks of life, who follow the sport for both profit and pleasure ; 
from the professional pelt hunter, down to the farmer's boy, who 
during the winter indulges in trapping as a side line, tending his 
traps between chores. 

The fur business is and always has been an important cog in 
American industry. It furnishes employment for thousands, from 
the trapper to the buyer, manufacturer and retailer ; but there is 
now a cloud of depression threatening on the horizon of the 
industry. Fur-bearing animals, which at one time roamed our 
prairies, streams and woodlands, in seemingly unlimited numbers, 
are now rapidly becoming very scarce, where a few years previous 
they were very plentiful. The beaver and several other species of 
fur bearers are already threatened with extinction and are doomed 
to follow in the wake of the passenger pigeon and bison, unless 
something extremely radical is done in the way of game preserva- 
tion in comparison to present-day methods. What has brought 
about this rapid diminution in the ranks of fur-bearing animals? 
It is the rapid advance of civilization w^hich deprives the fur bearers 
of their natural haunts. It is the inventive genius of Americans, 
who, with highly efficient traps, guns, especially prepared poisons, 
smoke-torpedoes and other ingenious devices, contribute to deplete 
the ranks of the animals ; the numerous fur houses throughout the 
country, flooding the mails w^ith their propaganda urging everyone 
to trap. We can hardly scan the columns of a paper or magazine 
during the fur months but w^hat our gaze will fall upon an allur- 
ing display of raw fur advertisements. These announcements are 
continually calling for unlimited quantities of raw furs; they are 
ever urging men and boys to push their trapping operations to the 
utmost. These concerns are giving free advice to beginners ; they 
offer free instructions in the art of trapping the fur bearers. All 
this has had but one result: The fabulous prices paid for raw furs 



and the extensive advertising in recent years have kindled a crusade 
on our fur bearers which has developed a crisis. When trapping 
is carried on to the extreme folly of taking the animals which 
should be left for breeding, then our natural supply of "wild fur" 
shall cease to be perpetual. 

And that is just what is taking place, in spite of the legislation 
passed in favor of the fur bearers — in spite of the laws which have 
been enacted for their protection by the various states and terri- 
tories. In the light of this fact, the question arises: Where are 
the millions of pelts to come from that the world needs each year? 
The time is not far ofi when the demand wnll exceed the supply. 
How can we keep an industry alive that can use millions of dollars' 
worth of raw furs annually, thus furnishing employment for thou- 
sands of people? Tliere is only one remedy, and that is — fur 
farming. 

Fur farming is by no means a new idea. Farsighted men 
experimented with fur bearers early in the seventies. Many people 
advarce the theory that the animals will not breed or thrive in 
captivity ; but this argument is not sound ; we need only remember 
that all our domestic animals were wild creatures at one time. 

True, fur farming, like any other business, has its drawbacks; 
but these impediments are rapidly conquered by the persistent and 
energetic study and scientific research of enthusiastic men, who are 
devotedly interested in the welfare of the animals, and the evolu- 
tion of the industry to a higher and better standard. In any case, 
the injury is not beyond the remedy. For example, some of the 
early pioneers in the business felt very much dejected when they 
discovered that the animals did not fur properly in captivity. This 
was later found to be due to crowded and improper quarters, im- 
proper drainage and the lack of shade about the enclosures. This 
has been remedied to the extent that ranch raised fur now excels 
the "wild" in quality and beauty. This testimony is verified by the 
fact that the sum of $3,800 w^as paid for the pelt of a single 
"ranch bred" silver fox ; a sum that has never been realized for the 
pelt of a wnld fox of like variety. 

Cannibalism among the animals was another evil fur farmers 
had to contend with. This was traced to be due to the feeding of 
improper foods, and especially underfeeding. 

Abortion must also be guarded against. During pregnancy 
strangers must be kept away from the ranch, because during this 
period females become very suspicious of them and are nervous and 



restless, often injuring themselves when thus excited. This trouble 
is most common among animals which were procured in the wilds. 
Each succeeding generation of ranch raised stock becomes more and 
more domesticated ; consequently the keeper finds it much easier to 
win their confidence. 

Practically all the failures in fur farming are due to the lack of 
experience of the people thus engaged ; their failure to take the 
proper interest in the animals, so they may understand them and 
their requirements. 

There are now numerous fur farms located throughout the 
northern part of the United States and Canada. These establish- 
ments propagate and improve the breed of fox, skunk, muskrat, 
raccoon, mink and opossum. 

Fox ranching is the leading branch of this industry. There are 
many ranches which specialize in high grade foxes, such as black, 
silver, cross and red. Prince Edward Island is the center of this 
industry; the most valuable foxes in the world are ranched here, 
being the result of careful and selective breeding. John A. Lea, 
of Summerside, P. E. Island, is recognized as one of America's 
leading authorities on the question. He is a man of wide ex- 
perience and knows the animals like a mother knows her flock. In 
his "Facts About Foxes" Mr. Lea says: 

(a) "Fox ranching is an industrv begun in P. E. Island in 

the 80's. 

(b) "Raising domesticated silver foxes is now an estab- 

lished success. 

(c) "Since 1909 millions of dollars have been paid in fox 

dividends. 

(d) "The domesticated silver fox is tame and easily cared 

for. 

(e) "Foxes will eat anything the ordinary dog will eat. 

(f) "The average litter is from three to four pups. 

(g) "The total annual increase is about 100 per cent, 
(h) "It is possible to breed up or improve any kind of 

foxes, 
(i) "The foxes now ranched on P. E. Island are valued 

at $6,000,000. 
(j) "These foxes earned $2,500,000 for their owners in 

1920. 
(k) "The average profit to the fox rancher is about 40 per 

cent annually." 



The above facts show that fox ranching Is not a dream, but an 
established success, paying large dividends on the capital invested. 
This is also true about fur farming in general. There are many 
cases on record showing the wonderful results obtained by men 
who experimented with skunk, mink and muskrats. 

Especially Is this true of the muskrat. I shall endeavor to set 
forth here the possibilities 'rat ranching offers to those of small 
means. In the large salt water marshes along the Atlantic coast 
and Chesapeake Bay, 'rat ranching has been carried on syste- 
matically for many years. This marsh land which was at one 
time considered practically valueless is now yielding large returns 
annually. The animals are protected from possible poachers by 
the authorities and land owners. They are trapped only w'hen the 
fur is at its best. The owners see to it that enough animals are 
left for breeding. Wicomico, Dorchester and Sommersett Coun- 
ties (Maryland) compose the center of this industry. The value 
of the catch in any one of these counties runs Into thousands of 
dollars yearly. And It must be remembered that this is from land 
which at one time sold from state or government at thirty cents 
an acre. 

The following are extracts from a letter by a well known man- 
ufacturer of game traps, who owns a large muskrat preserve In 
Maryland. I shall put down these statements, not to encourage 
anyone to go there, as the ground is well occupied and trappers 
are numerous, but merely to serve as an Illustration of what can 
be done with the numerous swamps, ponds and small lakes scat- 
tered throughout the rest of the United States and Canada, and 
which are now considered practically worthless: 

"Good muskrat marsh in Maryland, where the writer's 
place is located. Is selling now for from twenty to thirty 
dollars an acre ... As a general proposition the owners 
lease their marshes to the trappers for a certain part of the 
catch, which has up to the present time been anywhere from 
one-half to two-thirds to the owners . . . The marshes 
never dry up, becaues they are only a very few feet above 
sea level and a great many of them are overflowed at times 
by extremely high tides . . . My 'rats are in an open 
marsh and I do not furnish them any feed, or look after 
them in any way, except to try to keep the dogs and foxes 
out of It and to catch the hawks, owls and eagles that prey 
on them. The marsh furnishes plenty of natural feed, and 



the only thing that is necessary to do is simply to keep their 
enemies away and they take very good care of themselves. 
. . . There are a great many natural marshes along 
the east coast of the country, in New Jersey, Delaware, 
Maryland and Virginia especially, these marshes have been 
inhabited by muskrats probably since their creation." 

Now then, from the above statements we can readily conceive 
that the raising of muskrats is the simplest form of fur farming, 
requiring very little capital to get started. For these reasons : 
First, it does not necessitate the construction of expensive pens 
and enclosures ; second, anim.als need not be fed — the food supply 
is natural ; third, a keeper is not required — the animals take care 
of themselves. 

As prospective 'rat ranchers, our first duty would be the selec- 
tion of the proper site for the ranch. This would naturally be in 
the form of a lake, marsh or pond. Many farmers have such a 
body of water on their land ; these vary in size from a few acres 
to several hundred. Those who contemplate rnising 'rats, but do 
not own a proper site, could easily buy one at a reasonable figure, 
as most people consider such property of little value. Before buy- 
ing a pond or marsh which you are not familiar with, investigate 
whether it has any inlets, such as springs and small streams. A 
marsh or small lake which is likely to dry up during a drought 
is not to be considered, as the 'rats would then be forced to leave 
it. Some of these waters have no visible means of support, yet 
they hold the same level of water year after year. This seems to 
be due to the nature of their location or else they are fed by inner 
springs. When in doubt about a certain marsh or lake, better 
talk with several neighbors who are familiar with it, before buying; 
they may, from observation, be able to give you reliable information 
about the water supply. 

Many lakes and ponds which are possessed of an inlet and out- 
let are often burdened with a very high level of water, and then 
again at other times not enough. This water could be held to a 
normal level by putting a dam across the outlet. This dam, how- 
ever, would need protection against the burrowing mania of the 
muskrats, as they would soon have it looking like a sponge ; the 
only difference would be, that the sponge holds water, while the 
dam would not. Such a dam could be amply protected with a 
solid covering of rocks. These should average in size anywhere 
from a baseball to a man's head, and should cover the dam to a 



depth of about two feet. This layer of rocks should also extend 
along the bottom of the stream on both sides of the dam to a dis- 
tance of about twenty feet. The building of such a structure 
would require some hard labor and time, but would well pay for 
itself where the ranch in question is large enough to warrant its 
construction. 

Following the selection of the proper site, our next considera- 
tion would be the food supply. Most lakes, marshes and ponds 
are naturally conducive to wild rice, flag and water lily growth. 
These aquatic plants are the mainstay of the muskrat's food sup- 
ply; they also represent the material of which they construct their 
houses. 

Should the prospective Vat ranch be devoid of such vegetation, 
as is sometimes the case, the owner should at once take steps to en- 
courage its growth by Introducing some flags and water lilies. 
These should be planted in about one foot of water and one yard 
apart. It is advisable to plant them along the shore, in several 
patches of two or three rows each, and numbering about fifty 
plants to the patch. These plants, when once started, will multiply 
very rapidly and spread into deeper water. The best time to do 
this work of transplanting is in the spring, just before the plants 
start sprouting. During the summer green grass is eaten by musk- 
rats w ith great relish ; therefore, mixed grass seed should be sown 
liberally wherever the banks are barren. The seed of wild rice 
should also be sown in the fall of the year, shortly after it is 
gathered. Wild rice will grow in deeper water than flags, and all 
that is necessary to start it is to scatter the seed in a depth of several 
feet of water. It is good policy to sow some wild rice every fall, 
even when the supply of food is ample, as 'rats are very fond of the 
myriads of young tender sprouts which shoot up in the spring. In 
waters where the food supply must be developed, it is advisable 
to keep muskrats away for at least one year, because their presence 
would greatly hamper its progress. 

When the food supply has been well established, we are ready 
to stock up our ranch. The 'rats can be purchased or procured by 
trapping. As a general rule, 'rats will already be found at home in 
a prospective ranch, which boasts of plenty of water and food ; they 
find such a place by force of instinct, though the nearest stream 
may be fifty miles away. 

We need pay no further attention to them, except to destroy 
their enemies, which in this case are, chiefly, the birds of prey. 



Sometimes these pirates of the air will establish headquarters at 
some muskrat marsh, and remain for weeks at a time. Selecting 
some lofty perch from which they can scan every angle of their 
acquired domain, they will often remain perfectly motionless, for 
hours at a time, only to hurl themselves upon the unwary muskrat 
as it makes its appearance on the water. 

These intruders must be caught — but how? Occasionally we 
may be able to *'check" up on one of them, with our old scatter- 
gun ; but this is the exception to the rule, as these birds are far too 
wary to be approached in the open. Therefore we must resort to 
steel traps for their destruction. This is not as difficult as it 
would seem at first thought. Knowing their habit of alighting on 
the highest point of vantage while awaiting their prey, we proceed 
to set up poles in our marsh, which are about eight inches in dia- 
meter at the top. On the tops of these poles we conceal our traps 
(preferably jump traps), by covering them with water-soaked chaff 
or leaves. Pegs are driven into the sides of the poles, upon which 
we ascend when tending the traps. These poles need not be very 
high when they are set up in the open ; eight or ten feet above the 
water would be sufficient, when there are no higher objects near. 
The erection of one such pole would suffice for every ten acres of 
territory. 

The animals must also be protected against poaching and free 
trapping. It is a good idea to post signs of warning against tres- 
passing on the premises. There should not be much trouble on 
this point, however, because people, as a whole, respect the prop- 
erty and rights of their fellow men. 

When the animals are thus protected, they will increase very 
rapidly. A marsh or pond which is covered with a mixed growth 
of aquatic vegetation will naturaly support a greater number 
of muskrats than a deep water lake where such vegetation can only 
be found along the shores. 

Good marsh land has been known to produce an average of one 
hundred 'rats per acre annually, and in some instances even more, 
but such a yield is above the ordinary. Statistics show the average 
yield of 'rat pelts to be about fifteen per acre yearly. This num- 
ber of animals can be safely trapped without fear of encroaching 
upon the necessary quota of animals required as breeders. Of 
course there are some waters that produce a much larger yield 
per acre, and these must be trapped accordingly. In a marsh or 
lake of low banks the 'rats are compelled to build houses. The 



owners of such a ranch can closely estimate the number of animals 
present by counting the houses and then multiplying the result by 
four. 

Though the muskrat will tolerate more crowding than other 
fur-bearing animals, the owner should prevent overcrowding, 
otherwise some of them vAould leave for parts less crowded. Some 
raisers, while gathering their annual crop of fur, make it a point 
to trap only two-thirds of their grounds, and when this is ex- 
hausted of muskrats they quit. This method assures the owner 
sufficient breeding stock for the next crop, and at the same time 
prevents crowding the animals. 

'Rat ranching is a business which does not require much money 
or eiifort to build up, and when once established there is very little 
to do, except to trap the muskrats during the proper season. The 
best time, in fact the most profitable time to do this, is in the 
early spring, when pelts are strictly prime and the fur is at its best. 

Judging from the ever-increasing popularity of muskrat fur 
and the consequent rise in value, ** 'rat ranching" can certainly 
be considered a profitable undertaking. Let us, for example, take 
into consideration a fifty-acre marsh, producing the low average of 
fifteen 'rats per acre. This would represent an annual crop of 
about seven hundred and fifty pelts. To trap this number of 
animals would require about thirty days. For eleven months out 
of the year, the owner would be free to take up any line of en- 
deavor he may choose to follow. Considering the small amount 
of capital and time required for the establishment and upkeep of 
such a 'Vivarium," is there any other form of farming or stock 
raising more profitable? We venture the answer without fear of 
contradiction — there is absolutely not. 



Chapter 5. 

Handling and Grading Muskrat Fur. 

Thousands of dollars are annually lost to trappers on account 
of the improper handling of raw fur. This is due to both igno- 
rance and carelessness on the part of a certain class of trappers. 
If these amateurs would pay a little more attention to the proper 
way of killing and skinning the animals, and the proper fleshing, 
stretching and drying of the skins, they would realize from 5 to 10 
per cent more on their furs. 

When animals are found alive in traps they may be dispatched 
by a few sharp blows on the head with a stick, which should be 
smooth and free from knots and stubs, otherwise the fur is liable 
to be damaged. An animal when caught will often retreat under 
the banks or between root snags, and then there is always danger of 
the catch escaping by its violent struggles when the trapper at- 
tempts to dislodge it from its retreat. A .22 caliber pistol will 
prove very handy for just such emergencies; a bullet between the 
eyes from such a weapon will subdue the animal, whereupon it can 
be safely hauled out. There is no danger of decreasing the value 
of the fur when using such a small firearm. 

Trapped muskrats are sometimes attacked, killed and torn to 
shreds by mink or owl, as these nocturnal prowlers are very fond 
of the flesh of these animals. When traps are not promptly looked 
after early in the day, magpies and crows will often stage a mass 
attack and peck and harass the poor victims to death. Such catches 
are a total loss to the trapper, who is in most part to blame, be- 
cause of his carelessness in attending traps and his failure to ar- 
range the sets so the entrapped animals may drown and be thus 
concealed from view. 

Before skinning an animal, examine the carcass and make sure 
that the fur is clean and free from foreign matter. When an 
animal is bespattered with dried mud, proceed to remove the same 
by thoroughly brushing the fur; fresh mud and blood stains can 
be removed by rubbing and rinsing the carcass in cold water. 
Burs and other foreign matter should also be combed and brushed 
out. When this has been accomplished, we are ready to skin the 
animal. 



There are two methods employed in skinning the various fur- 
bearers, namely, "open" and "cased." The former method is used 
on the larger animals, such as bear, wolverine, mountain lion, etc. 
The latter method is used on the smaller animals, which include 
our friend the muskrat. The blade of the skinning knife should 
possess a very keen edge at all times, so that there will be no ragged 
edges on the pelts. It is much easier and more agreeable to skin 
an animal right after it is killed, while the body heat is still re- 
tained. Never allow an animal to lay unskinned for more than 
twenty-four hours, as it is liable to taint, which has a tendency 
to cause the fur to slip. Such pelts would have little or no value. 

To skin the muskrat, cut the skin loose around the hind legs 

near the feet where the fur ends, then rip down the back of the 
hind legs to the root of the tail and loosen the fur around the 
same. Do not skin the tail of the muskrat, as this has no fur 
value. Now lay the knife aside and peel the skin with your fingers 
by drawing it down towards the head. You will find that it will 
peel very readily, with a little flesh here and there threatening to 
adhere to the skin ; most of this can be held back by pushing the 
fingers of one hand against it, while pulling the skin with the 
other. To loosen the skin at the front legs, work the thumb of 
your right hand between the skin and the flesh on the underside 
of the main joint of the leg, and pull ; the skin will come off very 
easily. The knife comes into play again when the ears are reached. 
These must be cut ofiF at the base, close to the head. When cutting 
the skin loose around the eyes, care must be exercised to avoid 
dilating the apertures. Now peel down to the nose and jaws, and 
with the knife assist in peeling the skin from these members. The 
job of skinning is now complete and we have what is termed a 
cased pelt with the fur side in. 

It is a deplorable fact that a large percentage of trappers do not 
use the knife when removing the skin from the head of the musk- 
rat. They simply pull it off by sheer force, with the result that 
the skin generally tears off right back of the ears, which leaves a 
badly damaged pelt. Such pelts when marketed are thrown into 
the lower grades and sell for about 40 per cent less. 

When the pelt is ready for fleshing, it is placed on the fleshing 
board. This board should be made of one-half-inch material 
about thirty inches long, four and one-half inches wide at the base 
and three and one-half inches wide at the shoulders. The upper 
end of the board should taper to a rounded point. The edges 



should be rounded and sandpapered, so there may be nothing to 
injure the fur. A mink fur stretcher makes an ideal fleshing board 
for muskrats, because it is just about the size and shape required. 
Place the skin on the board fur side in, and with a dull knife 
proceed to remove all loose fat and flesh. An old table knife is 
a very handy tool for this purpose. When using a jackknife, care 
must be taken not to score or tear the pelt. The skin should be 
held taut with the left hand, while manipulating the knife with 
the right. Scrape by working from the head towards the base, or 
vice versa, being careful not to scrape the muscles behind the 
shoulders too close, because the ends of these are firmly attached to 
the skin. When all superfluous fat and flesh have been removed, 
the pelt is ready for the stretcher. 




Fig. 3 

There are various makes of steel and wire fur stretchers on the 
market, which can be purchased at a reasonable figure; but for 
the accommodation of muskrat pelts, I know of none better or 
cheaper than the common plain board stretchers which are made 
of dry goods boxes or similar material. These boards should be 



made of one-quarter-inch material, about thirty inches in length, 
six inches wide at the base and five and one-half inches wide at the 
shoulders. From the shoulders to the tip of the nose they should 
rapidly taper, coming to a point. This point should be rounded so 
as to fit the head snugly (See Fig. 3). The edges of the board 
should be nicely rounded and smoothly sandpapered. When 
boards are made of one-half-inch material, they should be beveled 
down to one-eighth of an inch at the edges. A quarter-inch hole 
should be drilled in each board near the base, so the pelts may 
be hung up when drying. 

It will be remembered, as stated elsewhere in this work, that 
muskrats vary greatly in size in various parts of the coun- 
try. This fact makes it impractical to quate exact dimensions for 
stretchers. The above dimensions are an approximate average for 
standard skins and are given to serve as an illustration for the 
guidance of the novice. 

When stretching the fur, draw the pelts on to the stretcher, fur 
side in, in such a manner that the back squarely covers one side of 
the board (as illustrated), while the underside covers the other. 
Never stretch a pelt so carelessly that parts of both the back and 
underside appear on each side of the board. Draw the skin down 
firmly and fasten to the board by driving tacks all around the 
base. A tack should also be driven into the tip of nose and lower 
jaw to hold them in place. 

The pelts should be hung up to cure in a cool, airy place; damp- 
ness causes mildew, which ruins them. Never dry furs in the 
sun or too near a fire, as this is liable to cause considerable dam- 
age. Never use salt or any other chemicals in curing pelts; allow 
them to dry by the natural process of evaporation. Be sure that 
they are held secure against mice and other pests. 

****** 

Large quantities of the cheaper fur are made up and sold under 
fictitious names by the manufacturing furriers, such as "Hudson 
seal, river mink, coney, nutria," and others too numerous to men- 
tion. Hudson seal is the fur of muskrat, which is sheared, 
plucked, dyed and beautifully blended to imitate the fur seal. 
River mink is also the fur of muskrat prepared and dyed to a rich, 
deep brown to imitate the more valuable mink. Coney is a species 
of European rabbit, somewhat resembling our native cottontail, but 
the pelt of the former is firm and tough, which renders it fit for 



manufacturing purposes. Nutria is the commercial term for the 
fur of the South American coypou. These fancy names have been 
adopted, no doubt, so that the goods may sell better. For instance, 
that beautiful new "black sable" cloak, which is so soft and silky, 
and which Mrs. Brown is showing with so much pride to her 
neighbor Mrs. Smith, is in reality nothing more than the un- 
adulterated fur of that despised animal, the skunk. Nevertheless, 
with the exception of the rare black fox, the skunk supplies the 
most beautiful and most durable natural black fur of North 
America. In the making up of this article, the white stripes in 
the fur are eliminated, as this is hair and not fur, as some people 
erroneously believe. 

Select specimens of the cheaper fur, such as muskrat, opossum, 
etc., are prepared by skilled furriers to imitate the finer and more 
valuable furs; and when these craftsmen are through with their 
process of fixing, it would require the skill of an expert to dis- 
tinguish ,the finished product from the genuine article which it 
imitates. 

Though the manufacturing end of the business is of little inter- 
est to the trapper and small dealer in raw furs, I merely record 
the above statements to give the average reader an idea of how 
a large percentage of furs are skillfully camouflaged to improve 
their appearance and thus promote their sale. 

In the following lines I shall endeavor to delineate, in an 
abridged form, the fundamentals and principles of "fur grading"; 
this, for the guidance of the reader, who, I shall presume, knows 
nothing about the art of grading and assorting raw furs. Be it 
remembered that in this, like in any other art or craft, the past 
master of that art or craft has from long experience acquired, un- 
consciously or otherwise, a certain "knack," the absence of which 
forms the main obstacle in the path of the novice. This fact again 
calls to mind the truth of that age old maxim, "Experience is the 
best teacher." What I am about to set forth here on the subject 
is done with the view in mind of assisting the amateur muskrat 
trapper (in whose interest this is written) to know and determine 
the value of his fur, which will enable him to realize more money 
on his catch and to find a better market for his goods. In my own 
days of adolescence as an amateur mink and muskrat trapper, it 
has been my privilege to handle and examine the pelts of hundreds 
of muskrats. This study and experience, alone, have been in- 
valuable to me in buying and selling raw furs. 



PELT: The inspection of the pelt or flesh side of a piece of 
fur is generally the first thing the fur buyer does, for the reason 
that the furs of most of the different animals are stretched and 
shipped to market pelt side out. The degree of primeness of any 
piece of fur is largely determined by the appearance of the pelt. 
To pass as No. 1, a pelt must possess a white, pink or flesh color. 
When blue spots are apparent on the pelts, they are termed blue- 
pelts or unprime. The value of these depends on the amount of 
blue showing on the pelts. When a pelt is possessed of but a few 
streaks or spots of blue, it is termed good unprime and goes into 
grade No. 2. The No. 3, or poor unprime, are those where the 
degree of primeness covers 40 per cent or more of the pelt. Any 
peltries below this plane of primeness are of little or no value. 

With the exception of the muskrat and one or two others, the 
pelts of fur bearers are generally strictly prime during the latter 
part of November and the months of December, January and 
February, though occasionally an animal is caught during the latter 
part of November or early December whose pelt is not strictly 
prime, but these are exceptions. From this it can be readily seen 
that the appearance of blue-pelts in a trapper's collection of furs 
is due to early and late trapping. This trapping out of season 
should not be encouraged, and is now illegal in most states. 

A pelt which has been damaged while killing or skinning its 
wearer, or in the process of fleshing, stretching and curing, cannot 
be classed as No, 1, though the pelt may be prime and the fur of 
good quality. Such pelts are classed as No. 2's, 3's, and trash, all 
depending on the amount of damage done. A pelt which has 
tainted or heated on account of flesh adhering, is considered value- 
less when the damage thus incurred loosens the fur and causes 
it to slip when handled ; such peltries are termed trash and are 
unfit for any purpose. To avoid disaster, keep in mind the im- 
portance of properly fleshing the pelts as soon as they are taken 
off the animals. 

FUR: Though the condition of the pelt is an important factor 
in determining the value of furs, the fur on fur side is of much 
more importance, also more difficult to grade and assort intelligent- 
ly. The quality of the fur bespeaks the real value of the skin. The 
vital points for consideration are : density, length, color, sheen and 
superficial luster. 

Blow into a piece of fur against the grain and you will notice 
two distinct layers. These are defined as inner or under fur, 



and top or guard hair. The former is the basis of the fur coat 
and on a No. 1 skin must exhibit a very dense growth. Pelts 
which possess a poor or thin coat of under fur are graded down. 
The guard hair forms the outer layer of the fur coat and must 
be sparse in density, but uniform throughout the pelt. The vari- 
ous shades of color and silky glossiness of these guard hairs har- 
monizing with the under fur is what gives the fur its natural 
beauty. Many a piece of fur will appear to be in first-class con- 
dition, but close scrutiny will often reveal the fact that guard hairs 
are missing in spots. This gives the fur a rugged or shaggy ap- 
pearance. Furs possessing such defects cannot be made up in their 
natural state, but must be either sheared or plucked. On the 
grading sheet they are classified as "rubbed" and are graded down 
accordingly. This loss of guard hair is due to various reasons, 
principally the presence of parasites in the fur, which causes the 
animal to rub against foreign objects. 

White fur, such as that of the ermine or Arctic fox, is valued 
as to the purity of its color. The pure or snow white pelts are 
the most valuable. Other shades in this class are gray white, blue 
white and yellowish to cream color. To command the highest 
market prices, it is essential that white fur be free from all blood 
stains. 

The policy of color is reversed in the assorting of the black, 
brown, red and gray furs. Here the rule is, the darker the shades 
of the various colors, the more valuable the fur. 

The mere color and beauty of certain furs of the same species 
often create a tremendous difference in the range of values. Let 
us, for example, consider the pelts of two foxes : We will say they 
are both large skins and perfectly prime, but one is a red, while the 
other is a black fox. Though both of these foxes may be of the 
same consanguinity, the pelt of the black would be worth about as 
many hundreds as that of the red would be worth dollars. In the 
case of the mink, otter, marten and other fine furs, a well furred 
pelt of dark color is often worth two or three times as much as a 
pale colored pelt of equal size and quality. 

Towards spring many furs fade or grow pale in color, some are 
rubbed and the fur appears woolly. These are graded down and 
termed singed or "springy," and as a consequence are less valuable. 

To receive full value for raw furs, the tails must also receive 
proper attention. Where they are partly or wholly missing or 



have been damaged be^^ond redemption, the furs are discounted. 
This amounts to from ten to twenty-five per cent of the value of 
the pelt. All tails should be split a portion of their length and the 
bone removed, otherwise they are apt to spoil. The tails of musk- 
rat, opossum and beaver are left on the carcass, as they have no fur 
value. 

SIZE : There are three sizes of pelts, namely, large, medium 
and small ; but dealers in raw furs find it necessary to quote a spe- 
cial grade for the very .small or undersize skins. These kitts, as 
they are termed, are the skins of the young of late litters. They 
are not mature in pelt and the fur is of poor quality, hence of lit- 
tle value. A No. 1 large pelt is usually worth about twice as much 
as one of the same quality in the small size. From this the reader 
may gather that the large grade pelt must be twice the size of the 
small, but this is erroneous. The fact is, that in most species of 
fur bearers the variation in the large, medium and small size is 
but a difference of two or three inches in the length of the pelt. 
Just why there is such a radical difference in price is a mysterious 
prank of the fur trade, for which no one person is responsible. 
On the other hand, a small size pelt which is of good color and 
possesses a lustrous and dense coat of fur, is often worth as much 
or more than a large pelt of poor color. Remember that dimen- 
sions of the skin and primeness of pelt are of little consideration 
when the fur lacks quality. 

GRADING MUSKRATS: Muskrats, unlike most other 
furs, are not strictly prime in pelt until early spring. For that 
reason they are assorted under three headings, as follows: Fall, 
winter and spring. The pelt of the fall muskrat displays very 
little primeness, but is endowed with a fairly dense growth of fui, 
and therefore is in good demand. The degree of primeness in- 
creases as the season advances, and when fifty per cent or more of 
the pelt is prime they are quoted as "Winter." When they are 
fully prime, which occurs during the latter part of February or 
early March, they are termed "Spring 'rats" and command the 
best prices. 

Abnormally thin pelts are not uncommon among fur bearers, 
but this defect is most frequently found on muskrats. Just what 
causes this imperfection is not definitely known. The writer 
while trapping in the prairie region of Dakota caught both river 
and marsh 'rats, and discovered that the pelts of the latter were 



very thin, and when dry rattled like paper when handled; the 
color of the fur was a paie, rusty red and very dull compared with 
that of the pelts of the river 'rats in the same district. I believe 
the inferior quality of the fur of these marsh 'rats is due to the 
excessive amount of alkali present in the marshy waters of the 
Northwest. Papery peltries are discounted from ten to twenty-five 
per cent, because the leather of such thin pelted fur is delicate 
and not very lasting. 

There is a larger percentage of kitts found in the average col- 
lection of fall muskrat pelts than among any other kind of fur. 
These pelts are poorly furred and very small compared w^th those 
of mature animals, and are of little value. 

In the spring muskrats fight a great deal, especially the males. 
As a result, the pelts of these are often damaged considerably. It 
is not an uncommon occurrence to find entrapped muskrats so badly 
chewed and torn, by their own kind, that it does not pay to skin 
them. 

In assorting muskrats, buyers usually pay more attention to size 
and primeness of pelt than they do to the fur, because it is gen- 
erally conceded that the average run of 'rat fur is good. Nature 
endows the muskrat with a dense coat of fur, which, in fact, is a 
necessity to further its welfare in the icy waters in which it lives. 

As before stated, 'rats, like most of the other fur bearers, varA- 
considerably in size in various parts of the country. For example 
the pelt of a large Southwestern muskrat is no larger than that of 
an Atlantic coast 'rat of the small grade. The districts which show 
a marked difference in the value and size of 'rat pelts may be 
divided into four groups, as follows: First, Eastern Canada, New 
England, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio, 
Indiana, Illinois, and West Virginia; second, Delaware, Kentucky, 
Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas; third, Wiscon- 
sin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and the Northwest; fourth, Mis- 
souri, Arkansas, Kansas, to the Pacific and Southern. 

The pelts of the first district are of the best quality and there- 
fore command the best prices. Those of the second average about 
ten per cent less per pelt, and those of the third and last district 
average about twenty and thirty-five per cent less, respectively, 
than those of the first named district. 



